Lake Forest Academy Photo - Located on the former estate of J. Odgen Armour, various historical and modern buildings comprise Lake Forest Academy's 150-acre campus, including the Cressey Center for the Arts, the Reyes Family Science Center, and a newly expanded athletic center.

Best Lake Forest Private Schools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 9 private schools serving 2,283 students in Lake Forest, IL (there are 7 public schools, serving 3,181 public students). 42% of all K-12 students in Lake Forest, IL are educated in private schools (compared to the IL state average of 12%).
The top-ranked private schools in Lake Forest, IL include School Of St. Mary, East Lake Academy, and Lake Forest Academy.
The average acceptance rate is 72%, which is lower than the Illinois private school average acceptance rate of 84%.
44% of private schools in Lake Forest, IL are religiously affiliated (most commonly Catholic).

Top-Ranked Lake Forest Private Schools (2026)

School
Location
Quick Facts
Fusion Academy Lake Forest
Fusion Academy Lake Forest Photo
Alternative School
(5)
840 S. Waukegan Road, Suite 224
Lake Forest, IL 60045
(877) 673-8893
Gr: 6-12 | 67 students Avg. class size: 1 student Tuition listed
East Lake Academy
East Lake Academy Photo - Forming tomorrow's leaders through the best academic training, building self-confidence, practicing the Catholic faith and cultivating missionary hearts.
(Catholic)
(4)
13911 W. Laurel Drive
Lake Forest, IL 60045
(847) 247-0035
Gr: PK-8 | 128 students Avg. class size: 12 students Sports: 3 | Extracurrculars: 14 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Lake Forest Academy
Lake Forest Academy Photo - Located on the former estate of J. Odgen Armour, various historical and modern buildings comprise Lake Forest Academy's 150-acre campus, including the Cressey Center for the Arts, the Reyes Family Science Center, and a newly expanded athletic center.
1500 W Kennedy Rd
Lake Forest, IL 60045
(847) 615-3257
Gr: 9-12 | 452 students Avg. class size: 12 students Sports: 15 | Extracurrculars: 25 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
145 S. Green Bay Road
Lake Forest, IL 60045
(847) 234-2350
Gr: NS-8 | 406 students Avg. class size: 15 students Sports: 12 | Extracurrculars: 3 Tuition listed
School Of St. Mary
School Of St. Mary Photo
(Catholic)
185 E Illinois Rd
Lake Forest, IL 60045
(847) 283-9800
Gr: PK-8 | 425 students Avg. class size: 19 students Sports: 7 | Extracurrculars: 3 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
900 W Everett Rd
Lake Forest, IL 60045
(847) 234-0371
Gr: PK-8 | 470 students Tuition listed
Woodlands Academy Of The Sacred Heart
All-girls (Catholic)
760 E Westleigh Rd
Lake Forest, IL 60045
(847) 234-4300
Gr: 9-12 | 120 students Avg. class size: 10 students Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Dearhaven Childcare & Learning Center
Daycare / Preschool
1100 N Westmoreland Rd
Lake Forest, IL 60045
(847) 535-6175
Gr: PK-K | 37 students Avg. class size: 15 students Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Montessori School Of Lake Forest
Montessori School Of Lake Forest Photo - Our main West Laurel Drive campus is on over five acres of prairie adjacent to the Middlefork Savanna County Forest Preserve.
Montessori School
13700 W Laurel Dr
Lake Forest, IL 60045
(847) 918-1000
Gr: PK-8 | 178 students Extracurrculars: 5 Tuition listed

Overview

This Town (Lake Forest)
This State (IL)
# Schools
9 Schools

Student Body:

# Students
2,283 Students
252,190 Students
% Average Students of Color
19%
34%

Academics and Faculty:

# Teachers
288 Teachers
18,845 Teachers
Average Student-Teacher Ratio
8:1
13:1
% Average Faculty w/Advanced Degree
51%
53%
Average Class Size
12 students
16 students
Average Number of AP Courses
24 courses
11 courses
Average SAT score
1430
(Out of 1600)
1258
Average ACT score
32
(Out of 36)
25

Tuition and Acceptance Rate:

Average Yearly Tuition Cost
$23,586
$12,671
Average % on Financial Aid
20%
34%
Average Acceptance Rate
72%
84%
Average Endowment Size
$194.73 million
$49.24 million

Students by Ethnicity:

0.54
0.66
# American Indian Students
9 Students
605 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
n/a
# Asian Students
195 Students
10,504 Students
% Asian Students
9%
4%
# Hispanic Students
99 Students
25,140 Students
% Hispanic Students
5%
10%
# Black Students
51 Students
21,085 Students
% Black Students
2%
9%
# White Students
1,384 Students
129,137 Students
% White Students
65%
51%
# Hawaiian Students
n/a
338 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
n/a
n/a
% of Two or more races Students
n/a
n/a
# Others Students
398 Students
65,579 Students
% of Others Students
19%
26%
All Ethnic Groups

Extracurriculars and Sports:

Average Number of Extracurriculars
10 extracurriculars
9 extracurriculars
Average Number of Sports
9 sports
6 sports

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked private schools in Lake Forest, IL?
The top-ranked private schools in Lake Forest, IL include School Of St. Mary, East Lake Academy, and Lake Forest Academy.
How many private schools are located in Lake Forest?
9 private schools are located in Lake Forest.
How diverse are private schools in Lake Forest?
Lake Forest private schools are approximately 19% minority students, which is lower than the Illinois private school average of 34%.
What percentage of students in Lake Forest go to private school?
42% of all K-12 students in Lake Forest are educated in private schools (compared to the IL state average of 12%).
What percentage of private schools are religiously affiliated in Lake Forest?
44% of private schools in Lake Forest are religiously affiliated (most commonly Catholic).
Which private schools in Lake Forest are often viewed compared to one another?

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